English Grammar – Direct and Indirect Speech exercises Exercises with Answers
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises – Writing and communicating effectively require an understanding of direct and indirect speech. Indirect speech expresses the meaning of what was said without utilizing the speaker’s precise words, whereas direct speech quotes someone verbatim. Both forms are important to spoken and written language because they fulfill different purposes and adhere to different standards. We’ll look at the guidelines, purposes, and practice of direct and indirect speech exercises in this post to help you improve your understanding and application of these language tools.
What is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct speech, often enclosed within quotation marks, is a verbatim repetition of someone else’s words. It allows for the exact words spoken by a person to be conveyed. If someone were to directly state, “I love chocolate,” for example, it would be quoted as “She said, ‘I love chocolate.'”
On the other hand, indirect speech—also referred to as reported speech—transmits the idea or content of what was said rather than paraphrasing the speaker’s precise words. Pronouns, tenses, and other aspects typically need to be changed to make the sentence make sense within the reporting speaker’s context. For example, “She said that she loved chocolate” is an indirect report of the same statement. Without having to use exact quotations from the speaker, indirect speech summaries or paraphrases what has been stated.
Functions of Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct Speech Functions:
Quoting Verbatim: Direct speech allows for the exact words of the speaker to be quoted, preserving their original expression and tone.
Emphasis: Direct speech can emphasize specific words or phrases, as it directly presents the speaker’s words without any alteration.
Clarity: It provides clarity about who said what, especially in dialogue-heavy texts or when attributing specific statements to individuals.
Indirect Speech Functions:
Summarizing: Indirect speech summaries what someone said without quoting them verbatim, condensing the information while maintaining its meaning.
Integration: Indirect speech integrates the reported information into the speaker’s own sentence, making it flow more smoothly within the context.
Narrative Distance: It can create narrative distance, allowing the reporting speaker to distance themselves from the reported speech, which can be useful for maintaining a consistent narrative voice or perspective.
Rules for Direct and Indirect Speech
Rule 1: Reporting Verb
It is implied that the reported speech also occurred in the past when the reporting verb—the verb that begins the reported speech—is in the past tense. As a result, in indirect speech, all present tenses are converted to their corresponding past tenses from direct speech.
For example:
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: She said (that) she was happy.
However, the tenses do not alter in indirect speech if the quotes’ contents convey universal truths or routine behaviors.
The tenses of the direct speech in the indirect speech stay the same whether the reporting verb is in the present tense or the future tense.
Rule 2: Tense Changes
Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect.
Direct: “I have been to Boston,” she told me.
Indirect: She told me that she had been to Boston.
Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous.
Direct: “I am playing the guitar,” she explained.
Indirect: She explained that she was playing the guitar.
Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect.
Direct: He said, “She has finished her homework.”
Indirect: He said that she had finished her homework.
Simple Present changes to Simple Past.
Direct: “I am unwell,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she was unwell.
Rule 3: Past and Future Tenses
Simple Past changes to Past Perfect.
Direct: She said, “Irvin arrived on Sunday.”
Indirect: She said that Irvin had arrived on Sunday.
Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous.
Direct: “We were playing basketball,” they told me.
Indirect: They told me that they had been playing basketball.
Future changes to Present Conditional.
Direct: She said, “I will be in Scotland tomorrow.”
Indirect: She said that she would be in Scotland the next day.
Future Continuous changes to Conditional Continuous.
Direct: He said, “I’ll be disposing of the old computer next Tuesday.”
Indirect: He said that he would be disposing of the old computer the following Tuesday.
Rule 4: Interrogative Sentences
When an interrogative word (what, where, or when) opens a sentence in direct speech, there is no need for a conjunction in indirect speech because the question word functions as a joining clause on its own.
Direct: “Where do you live?” asked the boy.
Indirect: The boy enquired where I lived.
“If” or “whether” should be used as the connecting clause in a direct speech sentence that starts with an auxiliary verb or helpful verb.
Direct: She said, “Will you come for the party?”
Indirect: She asked whether we would come for the party.
Reporting verbs such as “said/said to” change to “enquired”, “asked”, or “demanded”.
Direct: He said to me, “What are you wearing?”
Indirect: He asked me what I was wearing.
Rule 5: Changes in Modals
Modals change while converting direct speech to indirect speech:
“Can” becomes “could”.
“May” becomes “might”.
“Must” becomes “had to” or “would have to”.
For example:Direct: She said, “She can dance.”
Indirect: She said that she could dance.
However, modals such as “could”, “would”, “should”, “might”, and “ought to” remain unchanged in indirect speech.
Rule 6: Pronouns
The first person in direct speech changes according to the subject of the speech.
The second person in direct speech changes according to the object of the reporting speech. The third person in direct speech remains unchanged.
For example:
Direct: He said, “I am in class Twelfth.”
Indirect: He says that he was in class Twelfth.
Rule 7: Requests, Commands, Wishes, Exclamations
Indirect Speech is supported by some verbs like requested, ordered, suggested, and advised. Forbid-forbade is used for negative sentences. Therefore, the imperative mood in the direct speech changes into the Infinitive in indirect speech. For example,
Direct: She said to her, “Please complete it.”
Indirect: She requested her to complete it.
In exclamatory sentences that express grief, sorrow, happiness, applause, interjections are removed and the sentence is changed to an assertive sentence.For example,
Direct: She said, “Alas! I am undone.”
Indirect: She exclaimed sadly that she was broke.
Rule 8: Punctuations
In direct speech, the words actually spoken should be in (‘’) quotes and always begin with a capital letter.Example: She said, “I am the best.”
Full stop, comma, exclamation or question mark, are placed inside the closing inverted commas. Example: They asked, “Can we sing with you?”
If direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, a comma is used to introduce the speech, placed before the first inverted comma. For example: He shouted, “Shut up!”
Rule 9: Change of Time
Words expressing nearness in time or place change to express distance.
Time expressions remain unchanged if the reporting verb is in the present or future tense.For example:
Direct: He said, “His girlfriend came yesterday.”
Indirect: He said that his girlfriend had come the day before.
Exercise Set 1: Identity Direct or Indirect Speech
a. Identify whether the following sentences are in direct or indirect speech:-
- “We have been waiting here for hours,” they complained.
- She said that she was going to Paris the following month.
- “She plays the piano beautifully,” he remarked.
- “I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” she said.
- “I have lived here for ten years,” he stated.
- He stated that he had finished reading that book the previous week.
- “He can speak three languages fluently,” they informed us.
- He mentioned that he had a busy schedule that week.
- She suggested that they should have dinner together.
- “I can’t attend the meeting tomorrow,” he explained.
- They explained that they had finished the project the previous night.
- I said to her, “When do you do your homework.”
- “I might visit Spain next summer,” he mentioned.
- We asked him if he was ill.
- “I lost my keys yesterday,” he admitted.
- She mentioned that she would buy some groceries on her way home.
- She assured that she would be ready in five minutes.
- He said, “May you live long.”
- “I don’t like horror movies,” she confessed.
- She requested to pass her the salt.
- He reminded me that the train left at 8 AM.
- She declared that she was attending the conference the following month.
- “Please pass the message to Sarah,” Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech are requested.
- “We should submit the report by Friday,” she suggested.
- She informed us that the movie started at 7 PM.
Answers:
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Direct Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Direct Speech
- Indirect Speech
b. In the following exercise, the given sentences are either in direct or indirect speech. Convert them into the opposite form of speech:
- Sita said that she shall come to see the pictures.
- I said to the teacher, “I am working hard.”
- The traveler said to me, “Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?”
- The teacher told me that I had not done my homework
- Hari asked his father if he could go to the pictures that night
- He said, “What a great misery!”
- I said to the teacher, “I am sorry”.
- The merchant exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
- Ram will say that he saw his teacher in the park.
- He said to me, “Trust in God and do the right.”
- He said that the man should come
- He said to me, “You played very well yesterday.”
- He requested him to let him study.
- She exclaimed that she loved chocolate ice cream.
- I said that I had been ill since Monday.
- He reminded us that the concert started at 7 PM.
- I asked her if she wanted my help
18.The boy requested his papa to forgive him that time.
19.“She is writing a novel,” he mentioned.
- He said, “She lives in Amritsar.”
- Mohan requested Rajan to go to the station with him.
- Prem said to Pran, “Were you present at the meeting?”
- The teacher said to the boy, “Shut the door.”
- The spectators said, “Bravo well played, Mohan!”
- He said, “The train will be late.”
Answers:
- Sita said, “I shall come to see the picture.”
- I told the teacher I was working hard.
- The traveler asked me if I could tell him the way to the nearest inn.
- The teacher said to me, “You have not done your homework.
- Hari said to the father, “May I go to the pictures tonight?”
- He exclaimed that it was a great misery.
- I told the teacher I was sorry
- The merchant said, “Alas, I am ruined?”
- Ram will say, “I saw my teacher in the park.”
- He advised me to trust in God and do the right.
- He said, “The man shall come.”
- He told me that I had played very well the previous day.
- He said to me, “Let me study.”
- “I love chocolate ice cream,” she exclaimed.
- I said, “I have been ill since Monday.”
- “The concert starts at 7 PM,” he reminded us.
- I said to her, “Do you want my help?”
- The boy said, “Papa! Forgive me this time.”
- He mentioned that she was writing a novel.
- He said that she lives in Amritsar.
- Mohan said to Rajan, “Please go to the station with me.”
- Prem asked Pran if he had been present at the meeting.
- The teacher asked the boy to shut the door.
- The spectators applauded Mohan saying that he had played well.
- He said that the train will be late.
Exercise Set 2: Change the Sentences
a. Change the following Direct speech sentences to Indirect speech:
- Sahil said to me, “When are you returning? “
- “What is the time?” the stranger asked Ashna.
- The professor said to Shipra, “Why are you quiet? “
- Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Aim at the fish’s eye. “
- “Bring the witness,” said the judge.
- “Ring the Fire-brigade,” said the woman.
- Bobby said to me, “I must do the homework.”
- My brother told me, “You were right.”
- Sharma told me, “Please sit here till I come back.”
- The coach said, “Bravo! You have performed excellently.”
- Raju said, “Alas! My kitty got injured.”
- Romi said, “I may come to the seminar”
- Bunny said to Sunny, “Do you see me?”
- The little kid said, “Let me sit here.”
- Grandpa said, “May God bless you.”
- “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
- “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
- Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
- My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
- Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
- The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
- Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
- Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
- Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
- The boy said, “Let me come in.”
Answers:
- Sahil asked me when I was returning.
- The stranger asked Ashna what the time was.
- The professor asked Shipra Why she was quiet.
- Dhronacharya ordered Arjuna to aim at the fish’s eye.
- The judge ordered to bring the witness.
- The woman urged to ring the fire brigade.
- Bobby said to me he had to do the homework.
- My brother told me that I was right.
- Sharma requested me to sit here till she comes back.
- The coach applauded me by saying that I had performed excellently.
- Raju told sadly that his kitty got injured.
- Romi said that she might come to the seminar.
- Bunny asked Sunny if he saw him.
- The little kid requested to let him sit here.
- Grandpa blessed me that God might bless me.
- The jury ordered to call the first convict.
- The man urged to call the ambulance.
- Bruce said to me he would do the work.
- My mother told me that I was wrong.
- Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
- The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
- Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
- Ruchi said that she might go there.
- Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
- The boy asked to let him come in.
b. Change the following Indirect speech sentences to Direct speech:
- Sarah said that she loved pizza.
- David told me that he was going to the movies that night.
- Emily asked me to pass her the salt.
- Tom said that he had a big test the next day.
- Jessica said that she was so tired.
- Mary exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
- John said that he didn’t understand.
- The teacher asked the students to be quiet.
- Peter said that he wasn’t feeling well.
- Rachel told me that she was so happy to see me.
- Amy asked me to help her with her homework.
- Ben said that he was hungry.
- Charlie couldn’t believe that he had won the lottery.
- Diana apologized for being late.
- Emily said that she thought it was going to rain.
- Fred said that he was exhausted.
- Harry hoped that I had had a nice birthday.
- Isabella said that she was so excited to go on vacation.
- Jack said that he was really proud of me.
- She said that she was studying for her exam.
- He said that they would go to the beach.
- She exclaimed that she didn’t like seafood.
- He told me that they were coming to visit us the next day.
- She mentioned that she had finished her homework.
- He observed that it was raining heavily.
Answers:
- Sarah said, “I love pizza.”
- David said, “I’m going to the movies tonight.”
- Emily said, “Can you pass me the salt?”
- Tom said, “I have a big test tomorrow.”
- Jessica said, “I’m so tired.”
- Mary exclaimed, “What a beautiful day!”
- John said, “I don’t understand.”
- The teacher said, “Please be quiet.”
- Peter said, “I’m not feeling well.”
- Rachel said, “I’m so happy to see you!”
- Amy said, “Please help me with my homework.”
- Ben said, “I’m hungry.”
- Charlie said, “I can’t believe I won the lottery!”
- Diana said, “I’m so sorry for being late.”
- Emily said, “I think it’s going to rain.”
- Fred said, “I’m exhausted.”
- Harry said, “I hope you had a nice birthday.”
- Isabella said, “I’m really excited to go on vacation!”
- Jack said, “I’m really proud of you.”
- She said, “I am studying for my exam.”
- He said, “We will go to the beach.”
- She exclaimed, “I don’t like seafood.”
- He said, “They are coming to visit us tomorrow.”
- She mentioned, “I have finished my homework.”
- He observed, “It’s raining heavily.”
Common Challenges and Pitfalls:
a. Maintaining Accuracy in Reporting:
Making sure the words or intentions of the original speaker are accurately reported is one challenge. There is a chance that the speaker’s message will be misunderstood or misrepresented when direct speech is converted to indirect speech, particularly if the original remark was unclear or complex. If not managed appropriately, this could result in miscommunications or misunderstandings.
b. Maintaining Clarity and Coherence:
Keeping the reported speech coherent and clear presents another difficulty, particularly when handling complicated phrases or concepts. It’s imperative to make sure the indirect speech both effortlessly integrates into the surrounding context and appropriately communicates the original statement’s intended meaning. A reported speech’s ambiguity or odd wording might mislead readers or listeners and lessen the communication’s overall impact.
Exercise Set 3: Multiple Choice Questions
a. Given below are questions sentences in Direct/Indirect Speech along with four options. You are required to read the Direct and Indirect Speech questions carefully and select the option that expresses the same sentence in the reverse speech i.e., Indirect/Direct Speech:
1. His father says “Honesty is the best policy”
(a) His father called honesty is the best policy
(b) His father asked if honesty is the best policy
(c) His father exclaimed that honesty is the best policy
(d) His father says that honesty is the best policy
2. Rama said, ‘I am very busy now.’
(a) Rama said that he was very busy then
(b) Rama said that he would be very busy now,
(c) Rama said that he is very busy then.
(d) Rama said that he is very busy now.
3. He said to him,’ Isn’t your name Khalid?’
(a) He said that his name was Khalid
(b) He inquired whether his name was not Khalid
(c) He asked is his name was not Khalid
(d) He asked why his name was Khalid
4. All said to the beggar, ‘I know you very well’.
(a) Ali recognized the beggar
(b) Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well
(c) Beggar knew Ali too
(d) Beggar was recognized by Ali
5. He said, “Yes, I’ll come and see you.”
(a) He accepted that he will come and see me
(b) He said that he will come and see me
(c) He agreed that he will come and see me
(d) He said that he would come and see me
6. Ram remarked “What a wonderful day!”
(a) Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day
(b) Ram asked if it was a wonderful day
(c) Ram said what a wonderful day
(d) Ram asked what a wonderful day
7. The monk said to the followers “Anger kills Intellect”
(a) The monk said to the followers anger kills intellect
(b) The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect
(c) The monk asked followers if anger kills intellect
(d) The monk told the followers that anger has killed intellect
8. The poor beggar said, “O God, have mercy on my soul”.
(a) The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
(b) The poor beggar, invoking God, implored him to have mercy on his soul.
(c) The poor beggar exclaimed that God, have mercy on his soul.
(d) The poor beggar told God to have mercy on his soul.
9. John’s father reminded him to take his umbrella.
(a) John’s father said, “Remember your umbrella John ?”
(b) “Here, is your umbrella John,” said his father.
(c) “Are you going to take your umbrella or not ?” said John to his father.
(d) “Don’t forget to take your umbrella, John,” said his father.
10. He swore in the name of God that he was ignorant of the matter.
(a) He said, “I’m ignorant by God
(b) He declared, “God knows I was ignorant of the matter.”
(c) He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.”
(d) He said he was ignorant of God
11. Raj said, “I’m teaching English online”
(a) Raj told I am teaching English online
(b) Raj asked me if I was teaching English online
(c) Raj said he was teaching English online
(d) Raj ordered that I am teaching English online
12. The father warned his son that he should be beware of him.
(a) The father warned his son, “Beware of me!”
(b) The father warned his son, “Watch that chap!”
(c) The father warned his son, “Be careful about him.”
(d) The father warned his son, “Don’t fall into the trap.”
13. He said to me, “I expect you to attend the function.”
(a) He told me that he had expected me to attend the function
(b) He told me that he expected me to attended the function
(c) He told me that he expected me to have attended the function
(d) He told me that he expected me to attend the function
14. John asked, “How long will it take to travel from Germany to South Africa?”
(a) John asked how long it will take to travel from Germany to South Africa
(b) John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
(c) John asked how long it should take to travel from Germany to South Africa
(d) John asking how long must it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
15. The designer said to her, “Will you have the dress ready by tomorrow evening?”
(a) The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening.
(b) The designer asked her that she would have the dress ready by next evening.
(c) The designer asked her that if she will like to have the dress by next evening.
(d) The designer asked her that she will have the suit ready by next evening.
16. They said, “Let us come in”.
(a) They told that let them be allowed to come in.
(b) They requested that they might be allowed to come in.
(c) They said that if they are allowed to come in.
(d) They requested me to let them come in.
17. Reshma said to Priya, “Why are you sketching on the wall?”
(a) Reshma asked Priya why was she sketching on the wall.
(b) Reshma asked Priya why had she been sketching on the wall.
(c) Reshma asked Priya that why is she sketching on the wall.
(d) Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.
18.Jacob fell as he’d have wished’, the father said.
(a) The father said that Jacob has fallen as he would have wished.
(b) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished.
(c) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he had wished.
(d) The father said that Jacob had been fallen as he would have been wished.
19. Arya said to Tara, “David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow.”
(a) Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place tomorrow.
(b) Arya told Tara that David will leave for his mother’s place the next day.
(c) Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next day.
(d) Arya informed Tara that David would be leaving for his mother’s place the next day.
20. The Professor said that nobody could solve the problem.
(a) The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.
(b) The Professor said, ’Nobody could solve the problem’.
(c) The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody could solve the problem’.
(d) The Professor exclaimed, ‘Nobody can solve the problem?’.
21. She said, “Why didn’t you send a friend request to me?”
(a) She asked me why had I not sent a friend request to her.
(b) She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her.
(c) She enquired why I did not send a friend request to her.
(d) She questioned why I had not sent a friend request to her.
22. The judge commanded them to call the accused in the court.
(a) The Judge said, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
(b) The Judge ordered, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
(c) The Judge command, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
(d) The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
23. The instructor asked Ronny if he was ready for the race.
(a) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.
(b) ‘Are you ready for the race Ronny?’, the instructor asked.
(c) ‘Ronny, ready for race?’ the instructor said.
(d) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, said the instructor.
24. Manager said to Shekher, “Why didn’t you attend the meeting yesterday?”
(a) The manager enquired Shekhar why did not he attend the meeting the day before.
(b) The manager asked Shekhar why he did not attend the meeting the previous day.
(c) The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting the day before.
(d) The manager enquired Shekhar that why didn’t he attend the meeting yesterday.
25. Kiara said that she had been planning for that for a while.
(a) Kiara said, “I had a plan for this for a while.”
(b) Kiara said, “I have planned for this for a while.”
(c) Kiara said, “I have been planning for this for a while.”
(d) Kiara said, “I planned this for a while.”
Answers:
- (d) His father says that honesty is the best policy
- (a) Rama said that he was very busy then
- (b) He inquired whether his name was not Khalid
- (b) Ali told the beggar that he knew him very well
- (d) He said that he would come and see me
- (a) Ram exclaimed that it was a wonderful day
- (b) The monk told the followers that anger kills intellect
- (a) The poor beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
- (d) “Don’t forget to take your umbrella, John,” said his father.
- (c) He said, “By God ! I’m ignorant of the matter.”
- (c) Raj said he was teaching English online
- (a) The father warned his son, “Beware of me!”
- (a) He told me that he had expected me to attend the function
- (b) John asked how long would it take to travel from Germany to South Africa
- (a) The designer asked her if she would have the dress ready by next evening.
- (b) They requested that they might be allowed to come in.
- (d) Reshma asked Priya why she was sketching on the wall.
- (b) The father said that Jacob had fallen as he would have wished.
- (c) Arya told Tara that David would leave for his mother’s place the next day.
- (a) The Professor said, ‘Nobody can solve the problem’.
- (b) She enquired why I had not sent a friend request to her.
- (d) The Judge said to them, ‘Call the accused in the court’.
- (a) ‘Ronny, are you ready for the race?’, the instructor asked.
- (c) The manager asked Shekhar why he had not attended the meeting the day before.
25.(c) Kiara said, “I have been planning for this for a while.”
b. Change the following dialogues in indirect speech of narration:
1. Mother: Where were you?
Daughter: I was on the terrace playing.
Mother: Please do not go without prior permission.
Daughter: This was the first time ever that I went on the terrace.
Mother: Remember, do not go there alone.
Answer: Mother asked her daughter where she had been. The daughter replied that she had been on the terrace playing. The mother then requested her not to go without prior permission. The daughter apologized saying that that had been the first time ever that she had gone on the terrace. The mother warned her not to go there alone.
2. Master: How are you feeling now?
Worker: I am feeling better but I am not completely fine.
Master: Do you need more rest?
Worker: It is okay. I will report tomorrow
Answer: Master asked his worker how he was feeling then. The worker replied that he was feeling better but was not completely fine. The master further asked him if he needed more rest. The worker replied that that was okay and that he would report the next day
3. Rajesh: Where are you going, Rohan?
Rohan: I am going to the temple to offer flowers.
Rajesh: Do you worship everyday and go to the temple?
Rohan: Yes, I go to the temple everyday to worship Lord Shiva.
Answer: Rajesh asked Rohan where he was going. Rohan replied that he was going to the temple to offer flowers. Rajesh then asked him if he worshiped every day and went to the temple. Rohan replied in the affirmative and said that he went to the temple every day to worship Lord Shiva.
4. Teacher: I want all students to quietly do the work.
Students: Will you allow us to go for games after this?
Teacher: First, all of you have to finish your work.
Students: We promise that we will finish our work first
Answer. Teacher instructed the students that she wanted them to quietly do the work. The students asked if she would allow them to go for games after that. The teacher insisted that first, all of them had to finish their work. The students then promised her that they would finish their work first
5. Father. Why did you go to the market today?
Son: I had to buy some material to do my project.
Father: Who gave you the project?
Son: My science teacher gave the project.
Father: Do you need any money for it?
Answer: Father asked his son why he had gone to the market that day. Son replied that he had to buy some material to do his project. Father then asked him who had given the project. Son replied that his science teacher had given the project. Father then asked his son if he needed any money for that.
Conclusion:
In summary, the ability to comprehend and employ direct and indirect speech effectively is essential for both written and spoken communication. While indirect speech summarizes or paraphrases what was said in order to convey the content without utilizing the speaker’s exact words, direct speech permits the quotation of a speaker’s exact words while maintaining the speaker’s original expression and tone.
These abilities can be strengthened by practicing tasks like differentiating between direct and indirect communication, recognizing phrases that use each type of speech, and responding to multiple-choice questions. But it’s important to be aware of typical difficulties like reporting with accuracy, making sure that information is clear and coherent, and following grammar rules.
Also See :
Exercises of Simple Present Tense